Smart move from John, although if Greg Rudeski thinks he's gonna be the replacement, he can jog on! ...

Reckon he jumped before he was pushed - wisely, probably after his solicitors had sorted out a compensation deal with the LTA regarding his contract. And Annacone's gone as the team coach, although just exactly what he did isn't clear.

Have to admit I thought Greg would be a suitable replacement, but am not so sure now.

(a) That he coaches James Ward doesn't fill me with optimism.(b) More importantly, if he were appointed, fur would fly between him and Andy, and that's the last thing we want in our present situation.

Paul Annacone is the luckiest man in tennis. He never was Sampras' coach - Gullikson was. Annacone was just his hitting partner - he had no coaching credentials at all. Henman seemed to believe he was his coach, though, and took him on. It was all downhill from there. And now he's all mixed up in British tennis. Poor sod.

Reckon he jumped before he was pushed - wisely, probably after his solicitors had sorted out a compensation deal with the LTA regarding his contract. And Annacone's gone as the team coach, although just exactly what he did isn't clear.

Have to admit I thought Greg would be a suitable replacement, but am not so sure now.

(a) That he coaches James Ward doesn't fill me with optimism.(b) More importantly, if he were appointed, fur would fly between him and Andy, and that's the last thing we want in our present situation.

Love that line in that article about how, if we lose to Poland, relegation to Euro-Africa II would be intolerable and heads would have to roll. Makes you realise how laughable the current situation is.

Paul Annacone is the luckiest man in tennis. He never was Sampras' coach - Gullikson was. Annacone was just his hitting partner - he had no coaching credentials at all. Henman seemed to believe he was his coach, though, and took him on. It was all downhill from there. And now he's all mixed up in British tennis. Poor sod.

I was wondering if you were correct there, as that is not how I remember it, so I had a look and came up with this ...

Love that line in that article about how, if we lose to Poland, relegation to Euro-Africa II would be intolerable and heads would have to roll. Makes you realise how laughable the current situation is.

Liked it too. Interesting to read these sort of comments with the benefit of hindsight. But heads did not roll after a tie in which even Murray couldn't save us from defeat. The only action the LTA took was to excuse him from DC duty so that he could focus on his career.

I still marvel at Lloyd's failure to play the seasoned Fleming/Skupski duo in the doubles. All respect to Ross Hutchins, but Andy was effectively playing the long-standing, successful Polish pair single-handedly. OK, there was no guarantee that Flemski would have beaten them, but at least we might have had a better chance.

That said, perhaps it is all to the (very painful) good that the state of British tennis has finally been exposed to the world for what it is - a laughable elitist shambles. What happens next will be crucial but, even if it's positive, it'll take a long time for our situation to improve.

Not surprised and lets hope that some tennis players (Andy) get to have a say

Andy is like a red rag to a bull as far as the LTA is concerned. This outspoken youngster from the depths of rural Scotland quickly became persona non grata there, especially after the Brad Gilbert business - the only time the LTA did try to help him - and I admit I can see their point in that regard. Also, not only do our other players lack the experience necessary for anybody to listen to them, but, if Jamie Baker is to believed, they're quite content with the way things were.

That said, perhaps it is all to the (very painful) good that the state of British tennis has finally been exposed to the world for what it is - a laughable elitist shambles

I’d like to think it was that simple, but it’s worse than that. It’s a thick-as-two-planks, ineffectual elitist shambles, isn’t it?

I guess they would like to see Britain win all the Grand Slams and the Olympics, but they just don’t have a clue.

What IS the magic formula, that they are failing to implement?

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and I admit I can see their point in that regard.

What point was that. I tend to think Andy knows best, and the LTA should consult him, not the other way round.

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Also, not only do our other players lack the experience necessary for anybody to listen to them,

Guess that’s true. I noticed that Peter Fleming said on SKY yesterday that our guys don’t spend enough time playing competitive matches, and working out their own way to win, from the age of seven onwards, which seems to support Andy’s approach.

How long has the Murray-Rusedski feud been going on?I always thought they were mates - first I heard of any trouble was before the Tour Finals last year when Greg was criticising Andy's play and Andy came back with a putdown.Tim and Greg were never great friends though either...

Not sure where, but I read a quote yesterday in which Andy basically vetoed Rusedski for the captaincy. Something like 'I don't need someone hollering in my ear the whole match'!!

And let's face it, the decision rests on Andy's opinion, so Greg can put away the CV and get back on the golf course for now.

How long has the Murray-Rusedski feud been going on?I always thought they were mates - first I heard of any trouble was before the Tour Finals last year when Greg was criticising Andy's play and Andy came back with a putdown.Tim and Greg were never great friends though either...

Not sure where, but I read a quote yesterday in which Andy basically vetoed Rusedski for the captaincy. Something like 'I don't need someone hollering in my ear the whole match'!!

And let's face it, the decision rests on Andy's opinion, so Greg can put away the CV and get back on the golf course for now.

Rusedski is not well liked. You just have to read Pat Cash's autobiography. Cash spent months redesigning Greg's game to take the stress off his body when serving, and GR never paid him a penny. After a legal wrangle, Cash said he had a very low opinion of Rusedski as a human being.

How long has the Murray-Rusedski feud been going on?I always thought they were mates - first I heard of any trouble was before the Tour Finals last year when Greg was criticising Andy's play and Andy came back with a putdown.Tim and Greg were never great friends though either...

Not sure where, but I read a quote yesterday in which Andy basically vetoed Rusedski for the captaincy. Something like 'I don't need someone hollering in my ear the whole match'!!

And let's face it, the decision rests on Andy's opinion, so Greg can put away the CV and get back on the golf course for now.

Yeah, I always thought they were buddies. I heard Chris Evans talking about getting Cliff to be Captain on the radio today (his show from Thursday)